Berbatov And Lahm To Join?

January is getting closer, I feel it in the air, in my bones and in the papers. The New Year is a time for resolutions and new signings, too.

Undeterred by Fergie's insistence that he does not expect to buy anyone in the winter window, the tabloids are busy debating who will be United's next target. Some of these would make sense which is surprising, given the English media's obvious taste for utter nonsense.

For example, I think that Phillip Lahm would be a pretty good signing. The diminutive Germanian is tenacious, skilled full-back who is comfortable on either flank. The constant delays of Gary's comeback mean we will need a right-back, especially that Wes Brown is looking to move. But why would Bayern sell him? The sole fact that Fergie likes Lahm's football will not be enough to convince Hoeness and Rummenigge...

But let's talk about contract rebel Wes Brown before I forget. He's got two choices, apparently: either to wait for the end of the season and then join Newcastle as a free agent or accept being a makeweight in a swap deal for Spurs's Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian is a player we are thought to covet for a long time and the latest speculations involve Nani swapped for him. The papers believe United consider it a non-starter but would be prepared to offer Saha, Brown and 6 million of cash in exchange.

Just to clarify it: we would offload our current first-choice right-back and an important impact striker for a player who would be ineligible to play in the Champions League. Yes, that sounds logical. But I offer a deal: they can have Eckersley and Dong and 15 million. That would be realistic...

They do cross over so if one plays in the 1st round of the UEFA Cup in August then gets transferred to a Champions League club, he won't be able to play in the Champions League. However, in Berbatov's case I was wrong, too. He may be registered as one of the three newly entered players because he played only in the UEFA Cup. If we'd sign two players who played in the UEFA Cup in the autumn, only one of them could be registered for the Champions League though. But my apologies, Berbatov could play.